Interrupter for current supply systems



Jan. 3, 1933. a. VILKOMERSON INTERRUPTER FOR CURRENT SUPPLY SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l "NSULATIQN F 5 higgmon INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, '1933 UNITED STATES BENJ'AIIN VILKOIEBSON, O1 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK INTEBBUPTEB FOB CURRENT SUPPLY SYSTEMS Application fled rem-nar a, 1032. Serial No. 590,457.

The invention relates to systems for converting direct current into alternating current for the operation ofelectrical apparatus, particularly radio receivers.

In my co-pending application for patent for current supply system for radio receivers, filed November 19, 1931, Serial No.

576,134, I' have disclosed a system for utilizing-direct current of a selected voltage as power supply for radio receivers by convertin the direct current to equal or hi her vo tage alternating currents. Said app 'cation discloses various circuits by means of which the desired result may beaccomplished and also discloses, broadly, the use of an electr c-magnetic interrupter.

The principal object. of the present invention is to provide a novel interrupter which is included in the circuit and which is responsive to the direct current supply for converting the direct into alternating current.

A very important object of the invention is to provide an electro-magnetic interrupter or vibrator which is double acting, that is to say in which the circuit is affected upon movement of the movable armature and contacts in each direction. 4 Another object of the invention is to provide an interrupter having adequate means for effecting adjustment so as to insure proper operation. A still further object is to provide a circuit maker and breaker of this type in which the parts are of such construction and so 3 related and coordinated that the natural frequency of vibration. of the movable parts,

Considered from the electrical viewpoint it is a feature of the invention to provide filter means in the circuit in which the interrupter is used for the purpose of reducing disturbances in the output so that such will not be reproduced by the radio receiver.

An additional object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive to make, easy to adjust, which will be certain to start in operation upon 5 feeding of current thereto, and which will moreover be compact, durable, and a general Improvement in the art. 1

To the attainment of the foregoing and 5 other objects and advantages, the invention 9 preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of arts to be hereinafter more fully des scri d and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 05

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inter rupter,

- Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a top plan view,

' Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 4'4 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the movable contacts,

Figure 6 is a similar view of one of the stationary contacts,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view,

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the device showing it enclosed within the sound absorbing housing, the latter being in section, and

Figure 9 is a diagram showing the connectionpf the device in a power supply system.

Referrin more partlcularly to the drawings I hav shown the device as comprising a base 10 from which rise supports 11 and a5 12. Actually the base and supports may be formed as a single casting and it should be heavy not only to serve as a firm foundation for the parts to be described butalsoto. have suflicient mass that not be subject to 5 clip or saddle 14 which embraces the bight portion and which is held down by screws 15. This magnet has spaced parallel upstanding poles 16.

Secured upon opposite sides of the support 12, as by a bolt 17, are ears 18 of insulating material. Located at opposite sides of the support 11 and spaced therefrom by sleeves 19 are vertically extending strips 20 of insulating material held in place by a bolt 21 which extends through the support 11, through the sleeves 19 and strips 20 and which carries nuts 22. The members 18 and 20 are provided for the purpose of supporting a pair of stationary contact members indicated as a whole by the numeral 23 and shown in detail in Figure 6. Each of the members 23 comprises a T-shaped body provided with a hole 24 at one end and a pair of holes 25 at the other end. The body carries an elongated resilient strip 26 secured at one end as by rivets 27 or the like and having its other end slightly oflset at 28 and carrying a contact 29. This type of contact member is quite common in automobile ignition equipment and the offsetting of the free end of the resilient strip is for the purpose of providing a cushioning effect when the contact 29 is engaged by a movable contact. customarily there is a securing member 30 provided adjacent the ofl'set 28. Two of such contact members 23 are used and they are mounted by means of screws 31 which pass through the upper ends of the respective ears 18 and through the holes 24. Nuts 32 are provided on these screws for making them rigid with respect to the ears 18 and the screws also carry washers 33 and nuts 34 located at opposite sides of the member 23 for securing it adjustably in place. The members 23 are additionally supported by screws 35 which pass through the strips 20, through spacing sleeves 36 interposed between the contact members andthe strips 20 and through the holes 25, these screws being equipped with washers and with nuts 37 engaging against the outer sides of the members 23.

Cooperating with the stationary contact members 23 are movable contact members indicated as a whole by the numeral 38 which are likewise of the type common in ignition equipment. Each of these contact members 38 is represented as comprising a T-shaped body having a disk portion 39 at one end and provided at its other end with a pair of holes 40. These members are intended to vibrate and are consequently made of thin flexible metal. Carried by the disk portion is a contact 41 and these cooperate with the contacts 29 of the stationary members 23. These vibrators 38 are located at opposite sides f the support 11 and are spaced therefrom by means of sleeves 42 through which pass bolts 43 which also pass through the support 11 and through the holes 40, nuts 44 being provided on the ends of the bolt outwardly of the members 38.

The two vibrators 38 are intended to move in unison in response to energization and deenergization of the electro-magnet 13 and for this reason they must be connected. I have found it advisable to make use of the peculiar and novel connecting means to be hereinafter described. This-. means is disclosed as comprising a'threaded'r'od 45 carrying an armature 46 adjustably secured. in place by nuts 47 locatedat its opposite sides. The armature necessarily cooperates with the poles 16 of the magnet and the degree of clearance can be regulated by adjusting the nuts 47. Near its end portions the threaded rod 45 -is formed with transverse holes through which extend the upper ends of springs 48 which are formed simply as appropriate length of spring wire. Nuts 49 are provided on the rod 45 and are screwed up tightly into engagement with the wires 48 so as to jam them against the sides of the holes and consequently exert an efiicient clamping action which will prevent the springs from moving with respect to the threaded rods. Extending through the center of the disk portion 39 of each vibrator is a rivet 50 having a threaded end formed with a transverse hole and carrying awasher 51 and a nut 52. The holes in the rivets 50 receive the offset lower ends of the springs 48 and the springs are clamped by turning up the nuts 52 tightly against them. It will 1 be seen that the connection at the lower ends of the springs is therefore of the same as the connection at their upper ends. virtue of this construction it will be seen that the vibrators 38 will move in unison and that to the vibrators as a unit. The virtue in this is that a certain dwell of the contacts 41 with respect to the contacts 29 is brought about, or in other words enga ement between either of the contacts 41 and t e coacting contact 29 is not broken immediately when the armature moves toward the magnet. Moreover these springs provide cushioning means for the contacts so that they will engage yieldably and consequently have prolonged life.

The stationary contact members 23 are intended to have conductors 53 and 54, respectively, connected therewith while a single conductor 55 connects with both of the vibrators 38. The terminals of the magnet winding are indicated at 56 and 57.

While the device is capable of use wherever ty e avibratory circuit breaker is needed, I will for the sake of clearness describe it as connected in a current supply system for operating an alternating current radio receiver for example from a direct current. Such being the case reference is had to Figure 9 wherein I have shown one lead of a D. C. supply connected through a convenience switch 58 with a small choke 59 which is in turn connected with the conductor 55. In association with the interrupter is a power transformer having the usual primary and secondary coils 60 and 61, to the latter of which are connected output leads 62 and 63 for supplying alternating current where it is needed. The terminal 56 of the magnet winding connects through a radio frequency choke 64 to the conductor 53 which connects with one stationary contact of the interrupter.

The terminal 57 of the magnet winding con-,

nects with one terminal of the primary 60 of the transformer. The other terminal of this primary has connected therewith a conductor 65 connected through a radio frequency choke 66 with the conductor 54 leading to the other stationary contact. The other D. 0. input lead connects through a resistor 67 with a conductor 68 which connects through a choke 69 with the center point of the primary 60.

To eliminate electrical disturbances, I make use of a filter system which I have found to be highly eflicient. This system comprises a condenser 70 shunted across the input lead, a condenser 71 shunted across the chokes 59 and '69, a condenser 72 shunted across the conductors 55 and 68, a condenser 73 connected between the conductor 55 and the choke 66, a pair of condensers 74 and 75 connected between the conductor 55 and the choke .64, and a condenser 76 connected between the center ta of the transformer primary and the chol e 66. Moreover I provid a condenser 77 connected between one input and one output,lead. In the output circuit I provide a condenser 78 shunted across the output leads and a pair of condensers 79 and 80 connected with the output leads and with the ground, or in other words with a protective shield indicated by the dot and dash lines 81 enclosing the entire apparatus. i

In the ac al manufacture of the device, the parts corresponding to those indicated in the diagram are housed within the protective shield 81 and in addition the interrupter itself is enclosed within a sound absorbing or deadening casing. By refering to Figure 8 it will be noted that the casting forming the base 10 and upright 11 and 12 of the device is mounted upon a slab 82 of sound deadening material which in turn is supported upon a rubber pad 83 resting upon a slab 84. Aninner casin'g member 85 extendsabout and encloses the interrupter and engages telescopically about the slab 82, while an outer casing member 86 telescopically engages about the bottom slab 84. These two casing members define a dead air space 87. In actual practice the slabs 82 and 84 and the casin members 85 and 86 are formed of some sound insulating material preferably of a fibrous poles 16 of the magnet 13 and with the contacts 41 and 29 at the same side of the magnet as the armature in engagement, the contacts 41 and 29 at the opposite side of the magnet being spaced apart. When the switch 58 is closed direct current from the supply source will flow through the choke 59, conductor 55, one vibrator 38, the contact 41 carried thereby, the engaging contact 29 of the associated contact member 23, the conductor 53, choke 64, conductor 56, magnet winding 13, conductor 57, one half of the transformer primary 60, conductor 68, choke 69, resistor 67, back to the source. A current is of course then induced in the secondary 61 of the transformer. The energization of the magnet 13 causes the armature 46 tobe attracted and by virtue of the springs 48 which connect with the vibrators 38, the initially engaged contacts 29 and 41 are moved apart while the others are brought into engagement. Current then flows from the direct current source, through the choke 59, conductor 55, other vibrator 38, contact 41 carried thereby, engaging contact 29, conductor 54, choke 66, conductor 65, other half of the transformer primary 60, conductor 68, choke 69 and resistor 67 back to the source. However, as soon as the first described pair of contacts 29 and 41: disengage the circuit through the magnet coil is broken so that the springs 48 will return the armature to its original position. This action is of course continuous in a manner common in connection with vibrators and owing to the fact that the current flows alternately in opposite directions through alternate halves o the transformer primary a corresponding current is induced in the transformer secondary, the successive impulses being in opposite directions so that an alternating current will be obtained through the output leads 62 and 63.

The various chokes and condensers shown the purpose of filtering out disturbances so that a uniformly alternating current may be obtained such as will be suitable for the opin the diagram and above described are for eration of radio. receivers without causing wires is carefully determined to insure sensitiveness without sacrificing durability.

The nuts 47 which clamp the armature in place provide adequate means for adjusting the position of the armature so that it will have the proper clearance with :respectto the magnet poles, it being apparent that the spacing must be sufficiently close to irfsure a 7 positive and effectual pull while yet large enough to prevent sticking. A feature of importance is that the springs 48 normally maintain the contacts in such relation that the magnet circuit is closed, thereby making it certain that upon feeding direct current to the device it will start at once in operation.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplifica'tion of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field ofutility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

-Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An interrupter for converting direct current into alternating current, comprising a support, an electro-magnetmgnted thereon and having pole pieces, a pair of stationary contacts located at opposite sides of the electro-magnet, a pair of vibratory contacts mounted adjacent the stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, an armature positioned to be acted upon by the electro-magnet, and yieldable means connecting the armature with said vibratory contacts.

2. An interrupter for converting direct current into alternating current, comprising a support, an electro-magnet mounted there on and having pole pieces, a pair of stationary contacts located at opposite sides of the electro-magnet, a pair of vibratory contacts mounted adjacent the stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, an armature positioned to be acted upon by the electro-magnet,

yieldable means connecting the armature with said vibratory contacts and means for adjusting the position of the armature with respect to the electro-magnet for varying the clearance between it and the pole pieces.

3. An interrupter for converting direct current into alternating current, comprising a support, an electro-magnet mounted thereon and having pole pieces, a pair of stationary contacts located at opposite sides of the electro-magnet, a pair of vibratory contacts mounted adjacent the stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, an armature positioned'to be acted upon by the electro-magnet, and yieldable means connecting the armature with said vibratory contacts, said support being massive to be free from vibration.

4. An interrupter for converting direct current into alternating current, comprising a support, an electro-magnet mounted thereon and having pole pieces, a pair of stationary contacts located at opposite sides of the electro-magnet, a pair of vibratory contacts mounted adjacent the stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, an armature positioned to be acted upon by the electro-magnet, and yieldable means connecting the armature with said vibratory contacts, comprising a member carrying the armature and sprlngs connected at one end with said member and at their other ends with the vibratory contacts.

5. In an interrupter, a support, an electromagnet of the U-type mounted thereon and having pole pieces, stationary contacts mounted on said support and located at opposite sides of said magnet, vibratory contacts mounted on said support ad acent said stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, a member extending transversely with respect to said electro-magnet, an armature adjustably mounted on said member for attraction by the magnet, and means flexibly connecting said member with saidvlbratory contacts whereby it will be supported thereabove.

6. In an interrupter, a support, an electromagnet of the U-type mounted thereon and having pole pieces, stationary contacts -mounted on said support and located at opposite sides of said magnet, vibratory contacts mounted on said support ad acent sa1d stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, a member extending transversely with respect to said electro-magnet, an armature adjustably mounted on said member for attraction by the magnet, and means flex1bly connecting said member with said vibratory contacm whereby it will be supported there-' above, said means comprising reslllent elements secured at one end to the vibratory contacts and secured at their other ends to said member.

7. In a circuit interrupter, a support, an

electro-magnet of the U-type mounted thereon and having pole pieces, stationary contacts mounted on said support at opposite sides of the eleotro-magnet, vlbratory contacts mounted on said support adjacent said stationary contacts for cooperation therewith, a member extending transversely with respect to the magnet and carrying an armature in position to be attracted thereby, said member being threaded, provided with transverse holes near its ends and carrying nuts, spring elements secured at one end to the vibratory contacts and having their other ends extending through said holes and clamped by said nuts. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN VILKOMERSON. 

